The Fair God; or, The Last of the 'Tzins: A Tale of the Conquest of Mexico

e owned a house on the eastern side of the Tlateloco tianguez, or market-place; which, whether considered architecturally, or wi

ntricately and tastefully carved; while cushioned lounges, heavy curtains festooned and flashing with cochineal, and a fountai

as only excelled at the royal table; indeed, there was a story abroad that the king had several times borrowed the services of the Chalcan's artistes; but, whether derived from the master or his slaves, the shrewd reader will conclude from it, that the science of advertising was known and practised as well in Tenochtitlan as in Madrid. Nor were those all. Under the same roof were rooms for the amusement of patrons,-for reading,

ull, round voice, as, comfortably seated under the curtains of his port

is old, he think

at there is something more real in wealth and many

I could not

you think

in Guata

chants and securities from the spendthrift nobles; he, however, has no vices. When not with the army, he passes the time in study; though t

y s

time is very quiet. If he were going

dee

and the sensible fellows of moderate skill and ambition have no f

to him, by Our Mother!

wholly incompatible with the profound reflection he certainly indulged. When next he spoke,

', the Tezcucan, had challenged the 'tzin to go into the arena with him

, and then the

, by the king's choice, they were the challengers, the young fellows about the palace shunned the sport, and there was danger that the god would find himself without a champio

oken by the hunter, whom the g

d, I think, that the lords hang back f

s a warrior, and is in ti

n the pipe, and look

had th

out it,-not even how suc

was now a

seats erected so as to rise one above the other. At the proper time, the people, the priests, and the soldiers go in and take possession of their allotted places. Some time previous, the quarters of the prisoners taken in battle are examined and two or more of the best of the warriors found there are chosen by the king, and put in training for the occasion. They are treated fairly, and are told that, if they fight and win, they shall be crowned as heroes, and returned to their tribes. No need, I think, to tell you how brave men fight when stimulated by hope of glory and hope of l

nswered, "I am thought to have some skill with the bow a

rrior, and if he survives, it is glory at once gained, fortune at once made." Then he arose, and, smiling, said aloud, "Let us go to the

t up at intervals over the celebrated square. On an ordinary occasion, with a visitation of forty thousand busy buyers and sellers, it was a show of merchants and merchantable staples wor

ad of a patrol, passe

ou would see justi

nd; I have been before the

ion of the peace

re, and sandals, and plumaje; at one place men were disposing of fruits, flowers, and vegetables; not far away fishermen boasted their stock caught that day in the fresh waters of Chalco; tables of pastry and maize bread were set next the quarters of the hunters of Xilotepec; the armorers, clothiers, and dealers in

A rapid glance at the miserable wretches, and Xoli sai

f mountebanks was performing. Hualpa would have stay

" he said; "next to it is t

e, and mixed with the cro

re too late! Th

n spoke re

. Over the four to the left were picture-written, "Othmies," "Tlascalans." They belonged to the challengers, and were battered and stained, proving that thei

ting the broker. "You are in good time t

he Az

es

not know are few and of little note. At one time or anoth

tening, whispere

the times the owners passed his

his abominable pul

ing their palaces in pa

ent on imp

n. They had a quarrel in the king's garden, and this is the upshot. That

t its ne

I can find you enough such here in the market to

ong ago, and asked me to hang it up by the side

you know the

mies. In the last battle the son alone slew eight Cempoallan warri

ey will escape?"

, "Not if it be true that yon plain

Chalcan whispered to his friend, "Let us go back. There is no chance for you in the arena to-morrow; an

d. The great crowd vanished; in stall and portico the lights were extinguished; but at once another scene equally tumultuous usurped the tianguez. Thousands